One of our favorite children’s books by Cyndy Szekeres is Nothing to Do Puppy.

We’ve had it for years and read it many, many times. It’s a cute book with adorable illustrations and a sweet story but the best thing is the opening line:

“Mama is away. Daddy is dusting.”

I’m trying to really picture this (not just in the puppy world). So the mother is out shopping or visiting friends or working and back at home, during his free time, the father is …. DUSTING?

I mean absolutely no disrespect to my awesome husband, but there is no way in all that is sweet and precious that Tim would pick up a duster and dust during a relaxing afternoon, even if he had the fancy red cloth sported by the puppy’s father.

He did however, recently experience a small housecleaning accident resulting in an apparel laceration.

Yes, this shirt, one of Tim’s favorites, has a rip in it. This gaping hole was allegedly caused by a tragic vacuuming incident. Without diving too deep into family history, let’s just say that Tim has “issues” with the vacuum cleaner. Just the sound of it, from another part of the house, can send him to the closest 7-11 in search of Slurpees.

Sadly there were no witnesses to confirm Tim’s story so we’re all just left to wonder what really happened. Perhaps the line in the book should read:

“Mama was away and Daddy was vacuuming.”

Kathy

Last night my faithful walking buddy, Julee, called to see if I wanted to go to the Y to work out. Julee lives nearby so on sunny days (hard to find in a WA winter) we try to sneak in a good 2 or 3 mile walk. In the spring and summer, especially as it is lighter later in the day, we can often find time to walk. Julee and her family have a membership to the Y so it’s only natural (if exercise is in the air) that we get together for an occasional workout. The Y isn’t too far from home so it’s fairly easy to hop in the car and run over to the Y for a quick (or not so quick, depending on energy levels) workout on the elliptical machine.

This is my favorite elliptical at the Y. It’s by Precor and runs around $3899 so you can see why I go to the Y to use it. Ha!

Just recently something has changed in all of this Y exercising. Rachel has started joining me. She went with me last week and read her book on the bike before heading off to play Wallyball with the rest of the family. Last night, Julee, Rachel and I all went to the Y. Rachel read her book on the recumbent bike in the front row of the room while Julee and I exercised on the elliptical machine just behind her. For 45 minutes!!! Way to go, Rachel!!

I like the way you have the option of using your arms as well (total body workout and all of that) plus this machine has the reading rack at just the right spot - just perfect for flipping through a magazine in between strides.

I didn’t bring my camera with me so I don’t have any pictures. Not that sweaty, workout pictures would be that visually appealing

This afternoon I had dinner all planned out (Thai chicken in the crock-pot, rice on the stove, and stir-fry veggies in the frying pan), my homeschool co-op classes all coordinated, and the children busy working on school and chores. I asked Rachel if she was ready to hit the Y again for another work out and she said yes. How amazing! I have an exercise partner right here in the house. I’m so excited. It has been so special watching Rachel grow up and one of the delights is carving out mother/daughter time. I love doing things with Rachel. She’s an excellent companion when we go shopping. She is almost always ready to go and run errands or visit the library (an almost daily activity lately). I just never thought she would also be an exercise buddy. How fun!

Tonight we did 30 minutes on our favorite machines. I got off to get some water and lost my momentum when my workout routine timed out. Drinking fountain was too far away, I guess. I tried to do some time on the bike next to Rachel but it was too hard to get a good pace (either way too easy or too hard). I didn’t feel like I had gotten in an intense enough work out (after all, tomorrow is weigh in day and, short of fasting, I want to know I tried my best on the day before) so I asked Rachel if we could cool down on the treadmill. She agreed (reluctantly, after all we’d already gotten in a decent workout).

We went downstairs, found side by side treadmills and started walking. We both went at a SLOW pace (tired at this point) until I suggested we jog/run a little bit. We decided to jog for 30 seconds. After a minute passed, Rachel said we should jog again. We ended up jogging for 30 seconds, walking for 30 seconds, for a good 8 or 10 minutes. It was awesome. I was jogging alongside my little girl. What a surreal experience for this VERY non-athletic person. We got in a decent 15 minutes on the treadmill and then took our sweaty bodies on home.

Thanks, Rachel, for being my exercise pal!!!

A non-exercising, couch potato, homeschool reading, mother and daughter moment.

Kathy

That’s a catchy title! Sure to draw in the crowds. It’s sort of sad what a girl will do to get more readers for her blog. Since I’m determined not to disappoint, I’ll open with this great picture.

A SHS loopie friend (from my Yahoo homeschooling e-mail group) has a wonderful business that she and her family run called, Hands and Hearts. They sell educational toys and games, history materials, books, crafts and so on. One of their treasures is a line of history kits.

I LOVE books and can read to the children for hours. I am NOT, however, good at providing hands-on activities. Thankfully there are co-ops and people like Kate who want to help the unskilled among us.

Since we are using Sonlight’s Eastern Hemisphere this year for our history, Bible and reading curriculum, the Ancient Far East kit seemed a perfect fit. Today our project of choice was printing a fish. This kit contains an actual preserved gray perch (fish) that you use to create a gyotaku print on real rice paper. The gyotaku link has some amazing prints, ours are a little (ahem) more basic.

The instructions carefully describe exactly what you do, beginning with Wash the Fish. This was probably the most intense part of the whole adventure. It’s pretty much all mellow, easy and downhill after you’ve taken a dead fish, held it in your hands (albeit gloved) and washed it. Remember, we are BOOK people not Actually-Go-Out-and-Do-It people so, although we’ve read many tales of exciting (and gross) adventures, we have led a fairly tame life.

Daniel (of course, need I say more) was elected to handle the Dead Fish Bath. He did a great job, to the admiration and appreciation of his followers.

One hand is bare! He touched the fish, he touched the fish! Ewww! Mommy, Daniel touched a dead fish!

Notice the intensity with which everyone watches Daniel. He is definitely the star of the moment!

Next things were laid out and the paint readied.

The children worked carefully to brush the water/paint mixture on the fish scales. Joshua was our “instructor” for the day. He read directions, supervised the application of paint, and did several of the actual rubbings. I’m barely needed for the project as all. Of course, I was needed to take 50 pictures. I obliged with hardly any complaining.

I kept the fish around for several days, hoping we could dissect it (him?), but I’m afraid I must have very strange homeschooled children, not a single one of them was interested in slicing that little guy open. There was no strange odor to the fish so I can’t understand why they didn’t leap at the opportunity.

The final product! Colorful fish prints.

A squeamish bunch perhaps? How are they going to handle biology in the upcoming years? More importantly, how are they going to become rich and famous doctors and support me in my old age?

Kathy

One, two, three, four, I declare … Poke War???

I’ve known the children to arm wrestle, play hide and seek, dress up in costumes and create imaginary games of all sorts. We play board games and card games of all sorts. The kids love sword fights and full scale battles with toy soldiers. Poke War, however, is a new one to me.

Further investigation reveals Joshua is the initiator of this intriguing game. He learned it at church middle school (of course) and brought it straight home to his siblings (of course).

Now, whenever the children have a dull moment (and they’re not outside playing catch) they can be found playing Poke War. The specifics of the game are as follows:

1) Find victim (I mean opponent)
2) Grasp hands - index finger extended

3) Twist and turn - testing opponents strength

4) Try various maneuvers with the goal of poking your opponent anywhere except the arms or head

5) Continue twisting and spinning until one person is poked

6) Convince Mom the person crying isn’t really hurt

7) Declare victory and find another victim

So far no one has been seriously injured or wounded. The kids are strangely well matched. Daniel is wiry and quick to spin and turn. Joshua uses brute force (”You ARE the Brute Squad”) but plays by the rules and doesn’t get too rough with the younger children. Rachel is very strong and has those long nails which are a bit intimidating. I’m not sure where David fits in, strength/power wise, but he’s definitely NOT going to be left out.

As a mother, who has a vested interest (ie has to pay medical bills) in the children remaining in one piece, the game SOUNDS horrible. There is much shoving and pushing and laughing and rough-housing. If that isn’t a recipe for trouble, I don’t know what is. Perhaps it looks and sounds worse than it really is, and it’s all just fun and games. Of course, it’s called Poke War so I’m not sure the intent is necessarily all that benign.

Anybody up for a game? Just don’t tell them you learned it here.

Kathy

The sun came out today. Hooray! I’m afraid I’m more affected by the weather than I like to believe. Yesterday was so grey and rainy, it was rather depressing. Although it was colder outside than it looked, the sunshine was delightful. I’m still fighting a fatigue of some sort (mini flu symptoms??) which left me rather tired all day (don’t ask me why I’m up this late blogging) and a serious need for comfort food. I think I ended up snitching bites of the kids’ peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Since I’m not supposed to eat bread or sugar these days, this was a sign that I was NOT doing well. Uh oh. I finally made a big bowl of steel cut oats with milk to curb the serious carb cravings.

Curb Carb Cravings. Kathy’s Curbing the Carb Cravings - Sorry, it’s late and I need to finish this and go to bed.

While dinner was in the oven, Tim was watching a movie to cheer him up (Maverick - sure to make you laugh), and I was on the phone Skyping with Tina; the boys went outside to play ball.

David is so excited to start baseball at the Y next session. He has been talking and thinking about it for a couple of weeks. Joshua drudged up this mitt for him. Talk about a well-appreciated gift!

Daniel is the only leftie in the family. He is in good company with his Uncle Thom.

Joshua is an awesome big brother. He went outside and played ball with the younger boys. They had a softball and tennis ball going so there was plenty of throwing and catching.

Brothers are the best!!

I decided to combat my fatigue and overwhelming hunger attacks (no doubt psychological as I already had that huge bowl of oatmeal) by going to the Y for a workout. Rachel came with me and did 4 miles on the bike while I was on the elliptical machine behind her. So lovely to have company. We didn’t linger — worked out and then went home. I topped the evening off with an apple and the rest of the broccoli from dinner. Rachel ate the last bit of the stuffed shells (the boys did NOT leave her much, greedy rascals) and then decided to follow my example and have a big bowl of steel cut oats. Yum. Oats might go down as my new comfort food.

Play Ball!

Kathy